« Services

Foot & Ankle Care

When foot or ankle pain keeps you off your feet, our podiatrists (foot and ankle doctors) can help you get back to what's possible.

Schedule Online With a Podiatrist

Toddler girl dancing on her fathers feet

Foot pain can stop you in your tracks. Maybe it's heel pain with your first steps in the morning. Maybe it's an ankle that still feels weak weeks after a sprain, or a bunion that makes every pair of shoes hurt. When your feet hurt, everything from a walk with the dog to a shift at work gets harder.

Our podiatrists start by finding out what's causing your pain. Then they walk you through your options, including nonsurgical care and surgery when it's needed. When surgery is the right choice, it can often happen at a hospital near you, with physical therapy to help you heal.

Because care is close to home, you can spend less time traveling and more time focused on getting back to what's possible for you.

Conditions We Treat

Most visits start with a symptom. Our podiatrists look for what's behind it.

Heel or arch pain that is worst when you first stand up may come from irritation of the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot, called plantar fasciitis. Treatment may include stretching exercises, physical therapy, steroid injections and shoe inserts made for your feet (custom orthotics). If your pain doesn't ease, a procedure that releases part of the tight tissue (plantar fasciotomy) may help. Your podiatrist will talk with you about the options that fit your pain.

A rolled ankle that stays swollen or keeps giving way, or pain at the back of your heel, can keep you on the sidelines. Your podiatrist may order X-rays or other imaging to see what's going on. Treatment may include:

Non-surgical care, such as a brace, walking boot or cast, compression wraps, custom orthotics, physical therapy, medicine to ease swelling and steroid injections
Care for general to complex foot and ankle injuries, including sports and activity injuries
Surgery to tighten and strengthen a loose ankle (ankle stabilization)
Repair of a torn cord at the back of your ankle, called the Achilles tendon
Treatment for broken bones (fracture care)

A bunion is a bony bump at the base of your big toe. A hammertoe is a toe that bends down at the middle joint. Both can make shoes painful. Treatment may start with changes to your shoes, padding, toe spacers, splints or custom shoe inserts to ease pressure. If those don't help, surgery can straighten the joint (bunion correction or hammertoe repair). Some surgeries can be done through smaller cuts (minimally invasive surgery). Your podiatrist will tell you if it's an option for you.

An ingrown toenail grows into the skin around it and can turn red, swollen and painful. Your doctor can treat it, including minor nail surgery when it's needed. We also treat thick or discolored nails caused by fungus (fungal nail treatment).

Diabetes can make it harder to feel a sore on your foot and harder for that sore to heal. Regular foot exams for people with diabetes can help catch problems early. Treatment may include these exams and care for sores on the foot and lower leg that are slow to heal (diabetic wound care).

Pain and stiffness in the foot and ankle joints (arthritis)
Broken bones in the foot and ankle (fractures)
Corns and calluses
Flat feet, including surgery to rebuild the arch (flatfoot reconstruction)
High arches, also called cavus foot
Nerve pain, numbness or burning (neuropathy)
Sports injuries, including checks to see if you're ready to play again
Warts

What to Expect: From First Visit to Recovery

Your first visit. Your podiatrist will examine your foot and ankle and may order X-rays or other imaging. Then they will talk with you about what they find and your treatment options.
If you need surgery. If other care is not enough or an injury needs repair, your podiatrist can talk with you about surgery. Some foot and ankle surgeries let you go home the same day (outpatient surgery).
Recovery. After surgery, you may be referred to therapy that helps restore movement and strength (physical therapy). Your podiatrist can see you for follow-up visits to check your healing. If you qualify, home health care can bring nursing care, physical therapy or other recovery support to your home. Ask your podiatrist if it's right for you. They will send the referral.

Questions About Foot & Ankle Care

Find a clinic near you (internal link: Where to Find Care section on this page) when foot or ankle pain starts getting in the way of your day. That might be heel pain that's there every morning, an ankle that's still swollen or weak weeks after a sprain, a bunion or hammertoe that makes shoes hurt, or an ingrown toenail that's red and swollen. If you notice a new wound or injury on your foot, call us right away, especially if you have diabetes. Go to the emergency room if a foot wound comes with signs of infection that affect your whole body, like fever, chills or body aches.

Not always. Many foot and ankle problems can be treated without surgery, with options like stretching, physical therapy, bracing, custom orthotics, nail care and wound care. Surgery is an option when other care hasn't helped or an injury needs repair. Your podiatrist will explain your choices so you can decide together.

Yes. A podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in the foot and ankle. Podiatrists earn a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree, and many complete extra surgical training to treat complex foot and ankle problems.

A podiatrist can be part of your diabetes care. Our podiatrists offer foot exams for people with diabetes and care for sores and wounds that are slow to heal. Ask your primary care provider (internal link: Find a Doctor, primary care search), about a diabetic foot exam, or find a clinic near you.

Some health plans require your primary care provider to send a request, called a referral, before you see a specialist. Check with your plan first, then find a clinic near you. If you need a referral, our office can help you get one.

Your plan determines what it pays for, or your coverage. Review the insurance plans HSHS accepts, then call the number on your insurance card to ask what your plan covers.

Need help with costs? See if you qualify for financial assistance or call Patient Financial Services at 833-464-1778.

Meet Our Foot & Ankle Specialists

All our podiatrists treat the full range of foot and ankle problems. Choose a doctor near you to read their bio and schedule online.

Provider	Clinics	Video
Jeffrey Fleischli, DPM	Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville
John Fleischli, DPM	Springfield, Decatur, Jacksonville, Litchfield
Kevin Hsu, DPM	Effingham, Mattoon, Shelbyville	Get to Know Dr. Hsu
Terese Laughlin, DPM	Springfield, Havana, Jacksonville
Austin Mueller, DPM	Breese
Zane Qureshi, DPM	Effingham	Get to Know Dr. Qureshi

Where to Find Care

Ready to get back on your feet? Find foot and ankle care close to home at clinics across central and southern Illinois. Choose a podiatrist above to schedule online, or call the clinic that works best for you. Some health plans require a referral, and our office can help you get one.

Schedule Online With a Podiatrist